Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 May 2026
1162. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health which specific body or office holds ultimate responsibility for approving, setting, reviewing, and enforcing national ambulance dispatch standards in Ireland. [38924/26]
View answer1163. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the Priority Dispatch Standard published by the Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council contains defined maximum permissible time thresholds for emergency call handling, triage, dispatch allocation, or mobilisation; and if so, to provide details. [38925/26]
View answer1164. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Health whether the September 2025 review of the Priority Dispatch Standard identified any recommendations, deficiencies, operational concerns, governance gaps, or patient safety risks relating to ambulance dispatch practices; and if so, to provide details. [38926/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1162, 1163 and 1164 together.
As outlined in previous answers to the Deputy, the Prehospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) is the independent statutory body that sets the standards for the delivery of prehospital emergency care in Ireland.
Key performance indicators relating to the despatch of ambulance emergency resources, as published in the HSE's National Service Plan and based on the HIQA standard, fully align to the Priority Dispatch Standard as published by PHECC.
As also previously outlined, the PHECC Dispatch Standard was last reviewed in September 2025. The Department has been informed that response/call handling time was not highlighted as an area for revision.
